Series: Where Secrets are Safe (Book 9)
A man of his word
Dr. Bloom Freelander thought it was safe to breathe again when Detective Sam Larson put her abusive ex away for good. She's been moving on, running a private practice and providing psychiatry services to The Lemonade Stand women's shelter. But now that her ex is a free man, she's in danger once again.
Forced into protective custody, Bloom can't help but fall for her protector. But she has every reason to doubt the handsome detective's word. Sam broke his promise to her once. Who says he won't break it again -- along with her heart this time?
Good book with a very real feel to it. Bloom is a survivor of domestic abuse who has finally started to feel safe, two years after her husband went to prison. She has put her experience to work in her private practice and in helping the women at The Lemonade Stand women's shelter. Then she gets word that her ex has been freed on a technicality and her sense of safety evaporates.
Sam is the detective who helped bring Bloom's husband to justice. He is furious over the release and determined to find a way to put him back in prison. Sam also feels intensely guilty because he had promised Bloom she would be safe. He makes it his personal mission to protect her.
I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Bloom and Sam. There is no doubt about the attraction between them right from the beginning, but both of them try to ignore it. Sam knows that getting involved with someone he's protecting is a bad idea. Besides the guilt he feels over the situation, he also has a bit of an inferiority thing going on. He can't help comparing his ordinary self to her successful life. At the same time, Bloom is just as attracted to him. Her brain tells her that it is simply the situation, but her heart isn't convinced. It was interesting to see the internal conversations each of them had with themselves as they attempted to bury their feelings. I liked seeing the heat build between them until they couldn't resist it any longer, even though they tried to tell themselves it was a one-time thing. I ached for them both as they tried to go their separate ways. I loved how Bloom finally took an honest look at her feelings and fears and took a chance. Meanwhile, Sam finally realized that a relationship is possible when you find the one that makes you want it.
I liked Sam. He's kind and honorable and sensitive. I loved seeing him get to understand Bloom and what made her tick as he learned more about her background. I loved the personal protectiveness that he developed as he wanted to give her the love and comfort she hadn't gotten growing up. His marriage had made him believe that he wasn't cut out for relationships; that work was going to be his life. It was great to see his outlook change, as he spent more time with Bloom. But it took his fear for her safety for him to finally realize that he needed her in his life.
I liked Bloom too. She was an incredibly strong woman to have survived what she did. I loved the way that she took her own experiences and used them to help others in the same situation. When Sam told her about her ex's release, I liked that she refused to cower and took an active part in her protection. I ached for her and the feelings of rejection she suffered because of her upbringing. Her head understood her parents' reasoning, but her heart hurt anyway. I wondered when her ability to bury her emotions was going to break and was so happy that Sam was there for her.
The suspense of dealing with Bloom's ex was good. Sam's fear for Bloom's safety was justified by several attacks on those around her. I loved watching Sam and others from the High-Risk Team as they did everything they could to keep her safe. I could feel Sam's frustration as so many of his leads led to dead ends. The final solution was full of twists and turns before reaching its conclusion.
I liked the secondary characters, so many of whom have appeared in earlier books. I especially liked Chantel. She was as determined as Sam to keep Bloom safe. I liked how she saw what was happening between Sam and Bloom and tried to help them along.
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